python-peps/pep-0291.txt

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PEP: 291
Title: Backward Compatibility for Standard Library
Version: $Revision$
Last-Modified: $Date$
Author: neal@metaslash.com (Neal Norwitz)
Status: Active
Type: Informational
Created: 06-Jun-2002
Post-History:
Python-Version: 2.3
Abstract
This PEP describes the packages and modules in the standard
library which should remain backward compatible with previous
versions of Python.
Rationale
Authors have various reasons why packages and modules should
continue to work with previous versions of Python. In order to
maintain backward compatibility for these modules while moving the
rest of the standard library forward, it is necessary to know
which modules can be modified and which should use old and
possibly deprecated features.
Generally, authors should attempt to keep changes backward
compatible with the previous released version of Python in order
to make bug fixes easier to backport.
Features to Avoid
The following list contains common features to avoid in order
to maintain backward compatibility with each version of Python.
This list is not complete! It is only meant as a general guide.
Note the features to avoid were implemented in the following
version. For example, features listed next to 1.5.2 were
implemented in 2.0.
Version Features
------- --------
1.5.2 string methods, Unicode, list comprehensions,
augmented assignment (eg, +=), zip(), import x as y,
dict.setdefault(), print >> f, calling f(*args, **kw),
plus 2.0 features
2.0 nested scopes, rich comparisons, function attributes,
plus 2.1 features
2.1 use of object or new-style classes, iterators,
using generators, nested scopes, or //
without from __future__ import ... statement,
plus 2.2 features
2.2 bool, True, False, basestring, enumerate(), {}.pop(),
PendingDeprecationWarning, Universal Newlines,
plus 2.3 features
Backward Compatible Packages, Modules, and Tools
Package/Module Maintainer(s) Python Version
-------------- ------------- --------------
compiler Jeremy Hylton 2.1
distutils Andrew Kuchling 1.5.2
email Barry Warsaw 2.1
sre Fredrik Lundh 1.5.2
xml (PyXML) Martin v. Loewis 2.0
xmlrpclib Fredrik Lundh 1.5.2
Tool Maintainer(s) Python Version
---- ------------- --------------
scripts/freeze/modulefinder Thomas Heller 1.5.2
Copyright
This document has been placed in the public domain.
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